Thanks to White Cottontail:

Sydney Sun Herald

BY CHRISTINE SAMS -- 10/19/2003 -- Russ hits gym for gig in the ring

RUSSELL Crowe has begun preparations for his next movie Cinderella Man by altering his health regimen and cutting out alcohol.

Crowe revealed last week he has begun preparing his body for the role of American boxer Jim Braddock, who was a famed fighter in the US during the 1930s.

The Oscar-winning actor stopped drinking about two months ago and plans to stay alcohol-free for about seven months in the lead-up to the making of the film.

Over the next few months, Crowe is also expected to begin a gruelling exercise program, which will see him match the weights and measurements of Braddock.

The film, which will be directed by Ron Howard, is set to cover about a decade of Braddock's life. Backstage after his concert with 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts, Crowe revealed he plans to match Braddock's changing shape over the 10 years, down to the exact measurements.

Filming for Cinderella Man is expected to begin midway through next year, after Crowe celebrates the birth of his first child. His wife Danielle Spencer is due to give birth in January.

Renee Zellweger is expected to star alongside Crowe in the gritty film. (And if the Aussie superstar needs any advice about changing his body shape, Zellweger is an expert. The rake-thin actor is currently shovelling doughnuts into her body in a bid to gain weight for the sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary. She is likely to join Crowe in slimming down for Cinderella Man).

In the meantime, Crowe is also preparing to promote his epic seafaring flick Master And Commander, which opens in Australia in early December.

In promoting the film, he is likely to be the cover star of the next edition of Vanity Fair magazine in the US, after a celebrity photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz earlier this year.